Hants set to face Steve Harmison (From Daily Echo)

Hants set to face Steve Harmison

4:05pm Saturday 7th July 2012 in Hampshire Cricket

Former England paceman Steve Harmison is set to make his Yorkshire debut against Hampshire next week after joining on a month-long loan from Durham.

Harmison is expected to face Hampshire in the LV County Championship match that starts at The Ageas Bowl on Wednesday.

The 33-year-old has found himself on the fringes of the first team at the Riverside this season and has been confined to the second XI for much of the campaign.

Yorkshire, meanwhile, are short of seam options with Ryan Sidebottom injured and Mitchell Starc due to link up with Australia A.

Homegrown quick Ajmal Shahzad has fallen out with the club and is currently playing for Roses rivals Lancashire.

Harmison, a veteran of 63 Tests and 58 one-day internationals, said: "It's been a frustrating first half of the season and I don't want to be playing second team cricket.

"I'm pleased that I can be helpful to Yorkshire at this point, when they are struggling with their senior bowlers, and I'm looking forward to our first game on Wednesday."

Yorkshire head coach Martyn Moxon said: "We're pleased that Durham CCC and Stephen have agreed to the loan, providing us with cover for the likely absences caused by Ryan Sidebottom's calf injury and unavailability of Mitchell Starc.

"He still has a great presence on the field and we look forward to welcoming him into the Yorkshire dressing room."

Durham chief executive David Harker added: "We are fortunate to have an especially strong bowling attack, who have been performing well. It's been a frustrating summer for everyone because of the bad weather, not least for Stephen who has been unable to get sufficient overs under his belt in order to compete for a first-team place."